Those who have been following these daily commentaries will be aware that sailing conditions in Pensacola, Florida and the 2024 America’s Cup venue of Barcelona are at opposite ends of the spectrum…
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Route du Rhum: Le Roux wins Ocean Fifty showdown
Sunday
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
French solo skipper Erwan Le Roux sailed Koesio across the finish line first in the Ocean Fifty fleet this morning at 10:50:52 UTC narrowly beating second placed Quentin Vlamynck (Arkema) after nail-biting head to head over the final miles…
Last night moves to decide thrilling IMOCA victory
Sunday
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 20
2022
Posted by XS Editor
A record sized entry of 38 boats at the start line in Saint Malo on Wednesday 9th November looks set to produce the closest and most exciting finish to an IMOCA race in the 44-year history of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe…
EurILCA European Championships day 4
Saturday
Nov 19
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 19
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Final series started today at the EurILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy in Hyeres, France. The wind was unstable in both race areas, forcing the Race Committee to adjust the courses many times before and during the competition…
Route du Rhum: The IMOCA title is in the balance
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After the redoubtable 66-year-old Francis Joyon last night completed his eighth Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe in fourth place on his 105ft/32m Ultim IDEC Sport…
Cup Spy Nov 18: Brits get foiling
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
American Magic put in a sailing session of over four hours on Pensacola Bay, Florida – clocking up 70nm, with Olympic representative Riley Gibbs on the helm. INEOS Britannia’s LEQ12 finally got tow testing three weeks after its launch…
Maxi Tri for Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
37 meters long, 23 meters wide, and weighing 21 tons, Sails Of Change has a long list of accomplishments to its credit…
Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year Award
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
US Sailing has opened nominations for the 2022 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, widely acknowledged as the premiere individual sailing honors in the nation…
Francis Joyon takes fourth place at age 66
Friday
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 18
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Legendary French skipper Francis Joyon sailed to fourth place in the 12th edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe when he crossed the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe this Friday morning at 02:56:40hrs UTC…
Route du Rhum: a rematch of sorts
Thursday
Nov 17
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 17
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 17, 2022; Day 9) – The Ultim 32/23 podium for the 12th Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe was completed yesterday (Wednesday) when Thomas Coville brought the Sodebo Ultim 3 through the finish line off Pointe-a-Pitre at 1952hrs UTC (1542hrs local time) 10 hours and fifty minutes after winner Charles Caudrelier.
The performance extends Coville’s remarkable history with the solo Transatlantic race. He has now finished on the podium five times in his seven ‘Rhums.’ He won in the IMOCA class in 1998 when he deputized for Yves Parlier who was injured pre-start in a hang gliding accident, and then has been third in the multihull or Ultim divisions in 2006, 2010 and 2018.
Coville followed François Gabart (SVR Lazartigue) through the line seven hours and 34 minutes after the runner up after spending time caught in fishing nets on the west of the island. Although both Gabart and Coville finished in the same positions as last edition four years ago, for both it was a very different, better race and indeed Coville also bettered the 2018 course record.
Gabart’s elapsed time on his first ever race for his new SVR Lazartigue was 6 days, 23 hours, 3 minutes and 15 seconds, 3 hours 15 minutes and 50 seconds after class winner Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild).
Route du Rhum: Caudrelier first to finish
Wednesday
Nov 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 16, 2022; Day 8) – In the dark of a Caribbean night to a typically rapturous welcome, French solo skipper Charles Caudrelier on the Ultim 32/32 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild crossed the line off Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe at 05:02:05hrs local time (09:02:05 UTC) this morning.
His was the first boat to finish the 12th Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, the legendary 3,542 nautical mile solo Transatlantic race, which started off Saint-Malo, northern Brittany last Wednesday at 1415hrs.
Caudrelier, a 48-year-old two-time winner of the crewed Volvo Ocean Race, first as crew in the 2011/12 race and then skipper in 2017/18, set a new record for the course with an elapsed time of 6 days 19 hours 47 minutes and 25 seconds, bettering the 7 days 14 hours 21 minutes benchmark set by veteran Francis Joyon in 2018 by 18 hours 34 minutes and 22 seconds.
Upon crossing the line, Caudrelier paid tribute to his team and family, “I’m not even tired. The first 24 hours were hard. I so wanted to win the race for the team. I’ve been dreaming of it since I was young. It’s for the family Rothschild. It seemed like a crazy idea, building a boat that could fly. It’s for Franck Cammas, as he had the experience. Without him I wouldn’t be here.
Yandoo set to take 18ft Skiff Spring Championship
Wednesday
Nov 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 16
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The John ‘Woody’ Winning-led Yandoo team of sheet hand Fang Warren and bowman Josh Porebski has taken an almost unbeatable lead in the Australian 18 Footers League Spring Championship as the fleet prepares to line up in next Sunday’s final race…
Golden Globe: Into the Southern Ocean
Tuesday
Nov 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 15, 2022; Day 73) – With the absence of modern equipment, half of the Golden Globe fleet is currently in the Southern Ocean. Two front runners of the Golden Globe Race, Pat Lawless (IRL) and Damien Guillou (FRA) have retired into Cape Town with wind vane failures.
Pat Lawless retired on November 9th after the failure of a critical bearing bush, caught without a spare. Both sailors did not wish to continue after repairs in port. “I realized I wouldn’t be competitive without the self-steering; I could sail but I wouldn’t be competitive.
“And then in a storm, I would end up broaching so it took a day or two to accept that I was out of the race. If this had happened in Hobart, I would have continued, but not here,” said Lawless. Lawless (IRL), who had been struggling with his failing Aries wind vane for days, arrived at Cape Town sailing sheet to tiller on the 10th of November.
12th Route du Rhum Day 7
Tuesday
Nov 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 15
2022
Posted by XS Editor
If there is one thing that the 2018 edition of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe taught us, it is that this solo 3,542 nautical mile Transatlantic race is never over until it is over…
Fire aboard IMOCA Nexans – Art & Fenêtres
Monday
Nov 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
At 1132hrs UTC this morning, while French skipper Fabrice Amedeo was en route to Cascais in Portugal after suffering damage during the Route du Rhum solo Transatlantic race, there was an explosion aboard his Imoca, Nexans – Art & Fenêtres…
12th Route du Rhum Day 6
Monday
Nov 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 14
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After five days and nights of tough, physical, racing which has taken them to the edge of exhaustion, there are just 1100 nautical miles of direct runway left to sail to the Pointe-à-Pitre finish line for the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe leaders…
Australia wins Dubai Sail Grand Prix
Sunday
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (November 13, 2022) – Tom Slingsby’s Australia SailGP Team delivered one of the more remarkable victories seen in SailGP to dramatically overtake both France and Great Britain from what had seemed respective winning positions to storm back onto the winner’s podium.
At the close of the Dubai Sail Grand Prix, Australia now leads the championship by nine points from New Zealand, with France one point further back, maintaining its position in the crucial top three placings. A good result from Great Britain in Dubai sees it just two points out of the Grand Final currently with four events left in the season, as the top four teams have started to pull away from the rest of the field.
But on the packed shorelines of Mina Rashid in front of sold out crowds the talk was all about Australia’s come from behind win.
Slingsby said: “I have no idea how we did that to be honest, I would want to replicate that every race if we could because whatever we did there was pretty incredible. That final was a blur, someone will have to explain to me sometime what happened but it was just unreal.”
Sir Ben Ainslie was on track for a first SailGP win in eighteen months as he led right up to the final gate before an error saw Australia and France sweep past them in the final seconds.
Ainslie said: “I think that is one of the best examples of grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory that I have seen for a very long time, it’s hugely frustrating for the team, we had such a good weekend, and just missed the final move, but that’s SailGP, that’s sport, it happens.”
Earlier in the final podium race France had looked to have wrapped up the win as it enjoyed a huge lead, but a tactical error of its own saw Australia and Britain reel them in…
SailGP information – Dubai details – Season 3 scoreboard – YouTube
18ft Skiff Spring Championship races 5 & 6
Sunday
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Races 5 and 6 of the Australian 18 Footers League’s 2022-23 Spring Championship were sailed over two windward-leeward 3-buoys courses, on Sydney Harbour today and resulted in wins for Rag & Famish Hotel and Yandoo…
Canada SailGP Team hot out of the blocks in Dubai
Sunday
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 13
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The inaugural SailGP event in the Middle East started out exceptionally well for the Canadian team with a win in Race number one…
SailGP: Kiwis in top three after Dubai – Day 1
Saturday
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The New Zealand SailGP Team is third on the event leaderboard after a tricky first day of the Dubai Sail Grand Prix, which saw all nine teams battling to get up – and stay up – on the foils in light winds…
U.S. SailGP Team in the hunt after day one
Saturday
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Currently in second place, U.S. SailGP Team’s Jimmy Spithill has no illusions: the real battle begins tomorrow at the Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas. “Tomorrow is a reset; our goal is to make the podium,” said the team CEO and driver.
Route du Rhum: face off for Ultims
Saturday
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 12
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 12, 2022; Day 4) – Different strategies through the Azores see the two Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe leaders Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) and François Gabart (SVR Lazartigue) less than 15 miles apart and on converging tracks as they negotiate the island group, looking to get through the next cold front and into the fast reaching conditions which will accelerate them towards Guadeloupe.
Gabart has held the lead for some of today and is approaching the island of Sao Miguel on the windward side, sailing faster than Caudrelier. Tonight and into tomorrow could prove a key stage of the race.
In third Thomas Coville on Sodebo is not out of the match, some 45 miles behind “Charles and François managed to sail a little better than me. The strategy was to move to the West to pass between the two systems. Given our position, we couldn’t see how to do it any other way.” He is expected to cross the front in the coming hours, but the wind is already up to 30 knots and so he is sailing with one reef and staysail.
To the South where Charles Caudrelier and François Gabart are close together, the wind is likely to be slightly weaker. Over the coming hours, they will have to find their way through the front extending out from the Azores High, but can look forward to the trade winds tomorrow evening.
As Coville moves further west, Sodebo Ultim 3 may find less wind, but a better angle to head South, but ultimately could simply find herself lined up behind the frontrunners, who in stronger winds should extend their lead.
Coville reported this lunchtime, “There were a lot of maneuvers during the night and it used up a lot of my energy. Yesterday evening, we wanted to get as far South as possible to cross the second front at a more favorable latitude. The gains you make to the South at this point affect the rest of the race. I hope my position will allow me to sail down reaching towards the area of high pressure. I don’t know how it will work out for the second front. It’s never like it in theory.”
Meantime 1000 miles behind the leaders Armel Le Cléac’h resumed racing this afternoon on his repaired Maxi Banque Populaire XI which has an original spec daggerboard in as a replacement for the broken one…
U.S. SailGP Team faces pivotal test in Dubai
Friday
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jimmy Spithill is keenly aware of the critical juncture facing the United States SailGP Team as it prepares for its next challenge, this weekend’s SailGP Middle East debut, the Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas…
SailGP: Kiwis feel the heat in Dubai
Friday
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Kiwis will be feeling the heat this weekend when SailGP makes its Middle Eastern debut at the Dubai Sail Grand Prix…
12th Route du Rhum Day 3
Friday
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Title favourite Charlie Dalin (APIVIA) has been enjoying something of a rich-get-richer scenario at the front of the 36 strong Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe IMOCA fleet, his lead of 60 miles ahead of Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOUt) increasing by the hour…
Globe40 Leg 4 Finish
Friday
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 11
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The GLOBE40 has once again provided a suspenseful finish to leg 4 from Auckland to Papeete. The 34 minutes separating the top two finishers in Auckland after 7000 miles and 34 days at sea had not been forgotten…
Route du Rhum: Crossing Bay of Biscay
Thursday
Nov 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
(November 10, 2022; Day 2) – With the first 24 hours of racing in the Route du Rhum completed and the record sized fleet of solo racers settling into their ocean racing rhythm, the biggest threat to the lead of Charles Caudrelier and the Ultim 32/23 pacemaker Maxi Edmond de Rothschild may be his jumping the gun at the start yesterday.
One other threat has been eliminated as rival Armel Le Cléac’h reported at midday today that he has a damaged daggerboard and is taking his Maxi Banque Populaire XI to Lorient for analysis – and potentially to fit a spare.
Caudrelier was opening the 3542 nautical miles course from Saint Malo to Guadeloupe in confident style. He was around 20 nautical miles further south than François Gabart who is progressively winding up his SVR-Lazartigue on which Gabart, 2018’s runner up, is contesting his first ocean race.
But Caudrelier’s team are contesting the call that their 100-foot trimaran broke the line early. The data from the line marker buoys is updated in real time and is now being analyzed against the his team’s positioning software and the tracking…
IMOCA fleet in the Route du Rhum day 2
Thursday
Nov 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 10
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After their first night at sea, the remaining 36 skippers in the IMOCA fleet of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe are heading out into the north Atlantic with a complex weather pattern ahead of them and some tricky decisions to make…
Project Landspeed: On hold for a fortnight
Wednesday
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
After the wettest October on record in Australia, the Land Speed team have decided to put ‘Horonuku’ back in the shed for a couple of weeks to have a break while allowing more time for the surface to dry out in the increasing temperatures…
Orcas sink boat off Portugal coast
Wednesday
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
For over two years, Scuttlebutt has been sharing incidents of orcas ramming sailing boats along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. But so far their ‘playfulness’ has led to survivable damage, but now the tally includes a sunken boat as reported by the Daily Mail.
This is the astonishing moment seven orcas destroyed a sailing yacht and sank it in 45 minutes, with the terrified crew fleeing for their lives on a life raft near Portugal.
Footage from November 1 shows the orcas circling and bumping the vessel, called Smousse while crew members Elliott, Augustin, Roman and Corentin were on board.
Augustin said that when they heard the boat shaking and a loud noise at the back of the yacht, they realized they were surrounded by orcas.
As the attack continued, the boat eventually began to crack because of the force of the orca’s jaws and the killer whales ripped a hole in the hull of the 40-foot boat…
For photos and video, click here.
12th Route de Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe underway
Wednesday
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The twelfth edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe started in great conditions at 1415hrs CET off Saint Malo this afternoon Wednesday 9th November…
Sam Goodchild injured aboard Leyton
Wednesday
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
British skipper Sam Goodchild, 32, solo skipper of the Ocean Fifty Leyton, has been injured during the start of the 12th Route du Rhum -Destination Guadeloupe race…
Globe40: Peanut butter on a cracker
Wednesday
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 09
2022
Posted by XS Editor
American Joe Harris along with Roger Junet are competing in the Globe40, a multi-leg doublehanded round the world race in Class40s. Seven teams were at the beginning on June 26, with five teams now on the fourth leg from Auckland, New Zealand to Papeete, Tahiti.
After starting on October 29, Harris files this report from onboard GryphonSolo2 on November 8, 2022:
We are approaching the turning mark at the island of Bora Bora, before hanging a right over to Tahiti and the finish line of this leg at Papeete.
Can we just pause for a moment and admire the name Bora Bora? I mean really, was there a WW2 movie by that name or am I hallucinating that? We can’t do “The Google” out here so maybe somebody can tell me the origin of the name?
Meanwhile… there is an absolutely full moon tonight and I am awed by its clarity, juxtaposed against some amazingly clear white clouds… rather breathtaking…
Route du Rhum records ready to tumble
Tuesday
Nov 08
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 08
2022
Posted by XS Editor
With the time and date now set for the start of the 12th Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe on Wednesday 9th November at 1415hrs, it looks like being a fast race…
Memories of Ian return as Nicole looms
Monday
Nov 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
A hurricane watch was issued along the eastern coast of Florida on November 7 as Subtropical Storm Nicole churned across the Atlantic and showed signs of further strengthening as it tracked toward the storm-weary state.
AccuWeather meteorologists expect this sprawling storm to take a turn and hit Florida’s east coast, strengthening into a hurricane (at least 64 knots) prior to making landfall along the central Florida coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday (Nov. 9-10). Impacts could be severe along Florida’s Atlantic coast and over the Florida Peninsula in general.
The combination of Nicole’s perpendicular track straight into the Florida Peninsula, a broad area of strong easterly winds from the Atlantic and the astronomical effects of the full moon could deliver conditions more severe with Nicole compared to Ian.
The National Hurricane Center warns that it is too early to predict the exact track or strength of the storm. A track farther to the south along the eastern coast of Florida could bring more significant impacts in terms of coastal flooding and wind to Fort Lauderdale and Miami while a track more to the north could bring more severe conditions from the Florida Space Coast to the Jacksonville Beach area.
The Coast Guard is urging people to stay off the water as their search and rescue capabilities degrade as storm conditions strengthen. However, there will remain an active presence in the Caribbean and Florida Straits to prevent and deter irregular, illegal maritime migration, which can prove even more dangerous and deadly during hurricane season.
Atlantic hurricane season runs until November 30.
On Course, Episode 22
Monday
Nov 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The On Course series takes a regular look at the sailing world with show host Matt Sheahan:
The Route du Rhum is the biggest solo offshore racing event in the world. Walk along the dockside at the start venue in St Malo where 138 boats were alongside the quay and it’s clear that this race across the Atlantic is a serious crowd puller. In just under two weeks the race village will see 2 million visitors strolling through a staggering offshore grand prix pit lane.
PlanetSail was there and as part of our Route du Rhum special we talk to some of the key players to find out more about this extraordinary event and the advanced machines that take part in this 3,500 race across the Atlantic to Guadeloupe.
And while the winter may be drawing in up here and the clocks have gone forwards, there’s still loads to report on including several new launches and key announcements in the America’s Cup.
We’ve also been boat testing with reports on why Swan’s latest launch is also its boldest along with a hands on assessment of the new Excess 15 performance cruising cat.
Plus, we have plenty in Docktalk.
Video uploaded Nov. 7, 2022.
A-Class Catamaran Nationals at Grafham Water
Monday
Nov 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Grafham Water Sailing Club hosted the Ronstan A-Class Catamaran National Championship as part of the recent Gill Cat Open. Water levels in the reservoir had dropped over the hot summer making launching slightly difficult in the soft mud…
SailGP ‘Racing on the Edge’ : Season 3 Episode 5
Monday
Nov 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 07
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Jordi Xammar is only six months into his role as leader and driver of the Spanish SailGP team. Yet his world seems to be crumbling around him with the mounting pressure of performing against some of the best and most experienced sailors in the world…
Cup Spy- Nov 6: Luna Rossa drops rig
Sunday
Nov 06
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 06
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Italian America’s Cup Challenger, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli dropped their rig while in the pre-launch process on their LEQ12, in Cagliari, Sardinia on Sunday (local time)…
18ft Skiff Spring Championship race 4
Sunday
Nov 06
2022
Posted by XS Editor
Nov 06
2022
Posted by XS Editor
The Noakes Youth team of Tom Cunich, George Richardson and Jed Cruikshank took full advantage of the 3-buoys handicap system to come from behind over the final lap of the course and take out Race 4 of the 18 footer Spring Championship on Sydney Harbour…
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